9 Reasons to Ditch the Soda

You have a healthy diet. You bring Greek yogurt to work to have as a snack. You make sandwiches at home and leave out the processed lunchmeat. You rarely miss a workout.  So what’s the big deal with occasionally treating yourself to a soda, diet or regular?

Many occasional soda drinkers go through periods where they bump it up to a daily habit. If this were an increased smoking habit, there would be more opinion and concern. In fact, Coca Cola changed one of its ingredients after realizing that if it kept it in the product, it would have to put a warning label regarding the possible carcinogenic effects.

One day, soft drinks may have to have warning labels akin to cigarette packages. Until then, here are eight reasons why you should certainly not imbibe in your carbonated beverage fixation:

1) It is not real. You don’t believe in fairies anymore. You shouldn’t believe in soft drinks. Only two people in the world know the full recipe of Coca Cola, and they don’t travel together in case there is a plane crash. If I asked you the recipe for your amazing apple pie, and realized that you were putting in an ingredient that could clean a car battery, I may not be so keen to join you for dessert.

2) In 1903 Coca Cola removed cocaine from its product. Since then it has not become a health product. So when you are sick and you claim that you need “flat ginger ale” or flat Coke, see if you can stomach 10 teaspoons of sugar in a glass of water. Yes, it is that many.  All together now: Ewww.

3) In case we didn’t have you at car engine, drinking just one can of soda a day can slow down your metabolism and contribute to type 2 diabetes and weight gain.  Research at Bangor University in the UK showed that the high sugar content can cause muscles to use sugar for energy instead of burning fat. Your gym results will not be nearly as impressive.

4) Soft drinks account for the most significant dental erosion and tooth decay of all food sources. Phosphoric acid, meant to give soft drinks their “bite” is associated with calcium loss and will rot your teeth.  Whether or not you are a vain person, I would say that owning a set of teeth accounts for a great deal of your healthy attractive appearance.  Fermented teeth will never be “in.”

5) Diet soft drinks are no better. Besides some unfinished studies of the neurotoxic effects of Aspartame, Aspartame and non-caloric sweeteners do affect fetal brain development. They are high in sodium and can increase the chance of osteoporosis. A recent study by the Columbia University Medical Centre showed that even one diet soft drink a day increases the incidence of stroke, heart attack and vascular disease by 43%. That is not trivial.

6) Reaching for the soft drink as a substitute for beer or wine?  The sugar content in soft drinks overworks the liver as well, causing a buildup of fatty deposits. In this case, actually better to reach for the light beer, glass of wine or even water.

7) Drinking a soft drink as an adult only further cements the coolness of the beverage to a child. And a child is 60% more likely to be obese with even one soft drink a day. Show the coolness of coconut water and mountain biking instead.

8) Kidneys are less able to excrete phosphoric acid when it is in excess.  More work for the kidneys with excess Calcium deposits can lead to kidney stones.  Some people describe this as more painful than childbirth.  We doubt that 355ml was worth it.

9) Soft drinks are dehydrating and can inhibit proper digestive function.  Every can of soda means a couple more glasses of water to make up for it.  As it is, are you drinking enough water?  Do you want to add onto that tally?

Go forth and close that “happy” bottle.

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Courtney Sunday has two cats and a boyfriend who are very patient with her health and wellness obsessions. She teaches yoga, Pilates and indoor cycling and gives Thai massages through her Toronto business Om at Home Yoga. When she is tuckered out, she takes up the sport of sleeping.